This pumpkin spice martini has all the flavors of pumpkin pie shaken up into a cocktail with graham cracker crumbs and whipped cream! Ready in just 15 minutes, it tastes just like fall and is the perfect dessert drink.
Now that the season of pumpkin spice is upon us, it's time for the most delicious fall cocktail, this pumpkin spice martini! If you love martinis with a twist, then you'll love this dessert drink which really tastes like pumpkin pie. It only takes 15 minutes to make, and a graham cracker rim and whipped cream topping make it extra festive and pretty. It's the perfect drink for Thanksgiving dinners, a fall celebration, or just the fall season in general!
We made this pumpkin cocktail a few times last fall and tried it again this year, and it truly tastes just like fall and the best pumpkin flavors! The actual drink has pumpkin puree, Baileys, vodka, and pumpkin pie spice, making it not only delicious but also simple too. If you have a few cans of pumpkin puree that you're looking to use, this drink recipe would be so fun to make for a fall evening or upcoming holiday parties! It's the most delicious cocktail for the season of all things pumpkin.
If you're looking for another fall recipe to enjoy with this drink, be sure to try our Soft Pretzels with Hard Cider Cheese, or if you're looking for another cocktail recipe, you'll love our Frozen Aperol Spritz which is also orange, making it perfect for Halloween!
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Why You'll Love this Fall Martini
- It tastes just like fall! This dessert martini tastes like a mix between your favorite pumpkin spice latte and pumpkin pie! It has all the fall flavors and would be so fun to have at an autumn gathering during pumpkin season.
- It's a quick and easy recipe. Making this perfect fall cocktail itself couldn't be simpler, and the homemade whipped cream is also so quick and easy.
- It's a great dessert cocktail! Thanks to the caramel, crushed graham cracker, and whipped cream, this is a perfectly sweet after dinner cocktail.
Ingredients for this Pumpkin Spice Martini Recipe
The drink itself only uses a total of four ingredients, and the rest of the ingredients include the garnishes and homemade whipped cream. If you have store-bought whipped cream you could also use that instead of making the homemade version.
- Graham crackerย - You'll only need 1 graham cracker crushed up to rim two coupe glasses. To crush the graham cracker, I find it easiest to put it in a plastic bag and crush it with a rolling pin. If you don't want to use graham crackers you could alternatively do a cinnamon sugar rim.
- Caramelย - You also only need a little caramel to coat the rims of the glasses before dipping them in the crushed graham crackers. You can either use a store-bought caramel sauce, or your favorite homemade recipe. Just make sure it is relatively thin and the kind that doesn't harden too much.
- Heavy creamย - Used to make the homemade whipped cream. Make sure it is very cold before whipping the cream.
- Powdered sugarย - Just a little to add some sweetness to the whipped cream. If you prefer a sweeter whipped cream you can add a bit more than the amount listed in the recipe card.
- Vanilla extractย - Just a little added in the whipped cream.
- Pumpkin pureeย - The star of this cocktail! For two servings I recommend only using two tablespoons total, otherwise it can become a little too overpowering and the drink will also be too thick. Just make sure it's real pumpkin puree that is pure and doesn't contain any other ingredients.
- Baileysย - Adds a creaminess that mixes so well with the pumpkin puree. You could substitute this with another irish cream liqueur.
- Vodkaย - I prefer to use plain vodka, but if you want the drink to be a little sweeter and less strong then vanilla vodka is also delicious! For an extra sweet version you could use whipped cream vodka. It's definitely up to personal taste!
- Pumpkin pie spiceย - Makes this drink taste just like fall! I recommend definitely measuring the amount of pumpkin pie spice that you add to the cocktail shaker as it has quite a strong flavor.
See recipe card below for quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
This pumpkin spice martini is quite easy and should be ready in just about 15 minutes, which includes the time to make the homemade whipped cream! This does not include the time for making homemade caramel, but if you're making it that could definitely be done in advance.
Step 1: Rim the glasses. Add crushed graham crackers to a small plate. Add either store-bought or homemade caramel to another shallow plate, ensuring it is relatively thin. Dip the rim of a martini or coupe glass first into the caramel and then into the crushed graham cracker until the rim is evenly coated. Set glasses aside and discard remaining graham crackers and caramel.
Step 2: Make the whipped cream. Add heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or to a medium bowl if using a hand mixer. Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until soft peaks form but whipped cream is slightly less whipped than usual.
Step 3: Prepare the cocktail. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add pumpkin puree, Baileys, vodka, and pumpkin pie spice. Shake well for at least 20 seconds, then immediately strain into prepared glasses.
Step 4: Top with whipped cream. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice.
Tips for Making this Pumpkin Martini Recipe
- If you've made homemade whipped cream before, I would recommend whipping the cream for slightly less time than you normally would. If it's too whipped it makes it more difficult to spoon on top of the martini. If it's on the thinner fluffy side, it spoons on and spreads out so nicely over the drink!
- Make sure to measure the four cocktail ingredients, as you don't want any of them to be overpowering by accidentally adding too much.ย
- It's essential that you shake the drink very well in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. The ice makes all the ingredients very cold, and shaking it for at least 20 seconds ensures that the ingredients will all combine with the pumpkin puree for a smooth drink.
FAQs
Definitely! I love homemade whipped cream specifically in this recipe, but if you don't have all the ingredients a dollop of store-bought is also perfect.
Yes I think this recipe can definitely be multiplied for a larger crowd! If you do that, I would recommend adding the pumpkin puree, Baileys, vodka, and pumpkin pie spice to a large drink dispenser and whisking very well with a metal whisk until the pumpkin puree is incorporated. I would then add ice to the container. For the glasses, you could rim them in advance then provide people with whipped cream and additional pumpkin pie spice for topping off their glasses. If made in advance, make sure to store the whisked drink in the refrigerator and re-stir before serving.
It definitely has a spiced flavor, so if you prefer that on the milder side I would recommend using a bit less pumpkin pie spice. If you're looking to make this drink on the lighter side, you can definitely reduce the amount of vodka used, it might just be a slightly smaller martini!
This decadent pumpkin pie martini would be extra delicious served with some vanilla ice cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon! It's also a great cozy evening drink after a holiday meal.
Storing and Freezing
If you're making this for a crowd, the cocktail itself can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator, and you'll just need to be sure to re-stir it before serving as the pumpkin pie spice will settle a bit.
I don't recommend freezing any components of this recipe.
Did you try this recipe? If so please leave a โญ๏ธ rating and/or comment below! Also, make sure to tag us on Instagram @doublethespoonfuls so we can see what you create.
๐ Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Martini with Whipped Cream
Ingredients
- 1 graham cracker finely crushed
- โ cup caramel (or enough to cover the bottom of a small shallow plate)
- ยฝ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (see note)
- ยผ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 2 ounces Baileys
- 4 ounces vodka plain or vanilla
- ยผ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice plus additional for topping
Instructions
- Add crushed graham crackers to a small plate. Add either store-bought or homemade caramel to another shallow plate, ensuring it is relatively thin. Dip the rim of a martini or coupe glass first into the caramel and then into the crushed graham cracker until the rim is evenly coated. Set glasses aside and discard remaining graham crackers and caramel.1 graham cracker, โ cup caramel
- Add heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or to a medium bowl if using a hand mixer. Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until soft peaks form but whipped cream is slightly less whipped than usual.ยฝ cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, ยผ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add pumpkin puree, Baileys, vodka, and pumpkin pie spice. Shake well for at least 20 seconds, then immediately strain into prepared glasses.2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, 2 ounces Baileys, 4 ounces vodka, ยผ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice.
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